Traveston, Gunalda, Wallu tourist parks top list of Gympie projects in works

Surging development and growth across the region does not appear to be slowing, with several significant projects poised for construction pending the ‘green light’ from council. Find out what is still in the works, and how long it’s been there:

There has been no shortage of development in the Gympie region in the past few years, with the population ever increasing and the Gympie Regional Council planning department dealing with a 10-year high in applications.

From tourist parks to unique plans to house overseas workers, there remain a number of large scale developments still winding their way through the council’s planning process, some more than year after they were first proposed

There are a range of reasons that can impact how long it takes a development application to be approved.

Requests for more information, state government regulations and assessment, or applications being incorrectly submitted in the first instance are among those reasons.

These are the five largest developments waiting for the tick of approval by Gympie council.

Wallu tourist park

A vacant 21ha block near Tin Can Bay at Wallu is the planned home of a 21-cabin tourist park complete with service station and an attached residential subdivision, which is still awaiting a final decision.

The west Brisbane-based Deol Group wants to open the development on a vacant block at the intersection of Tin Can Bay and Maryborough Cooloola Roads.

A proposed tourist park, service station and subdivision at Wallu is still with Gympie Regional Council more than a year after it was proposed.

The company bought the land in April 2020 for $750,000.

It lodged its application with the council in March 2021; the developers have since been granted an extended time frame to respond to requests for further information about the project.

Cooloola Cove medical centre

Medical services at Cooloola Cove are in line for a boost with plans to build a medical centre in the booming coastal town.

Landowner Andrew Spall and planning company Plansmart are seeking approval to build the centre on an 1134sq m block on the southern side of Nautilus Dr, opposite the shopping centre.

The fate of a planned medical centre at Cooloola Cove is still undecided.

The application, lodged in May 2021, has been subject to several requests from the council for further information as it works towards a decision.

Nolan Meats workers’ accommodation

Major Gympie business Nolan Meats has unveiled a unique plan to address its ongoing worker shortage in the wake of Covid and border restrictions, proposing to build accommodation for its overseas staff.

The housing is planned to be built only metres away from the factory on East Deep Creek Rd.

Nolan Meats has unveiled a unique proposal to house overseas workers near its East Deep Creek factory as a way of dealing with an ongoing worker shortage.

It will include 12 cabin-style dormitories, each with eight bedrooms.

A two-bed bunkhouse is proposed too, along with three laundry rooms and 63 parking spaces.

The housing is not meant to be permanent, but only to be used for as long as the region continues to be impacted by the Covid, housing and overseas worker crisis which the company expects to last a decade.

Gympie council has agreed to extend the deadline on when a decision must be made on the application, which was lodged on October 2021.

Amamoor campgrounds

It is in its early stages, but a brand new tourist park capable of hosting hundreds of campers is on the cards near Amamoor.

An application was lodged with the council on January 27, 2022, for a “tourist park and ancillary caretaker accommodation” at Amamoor, 15 minutes out of Gympie, off the Mary Valley Link Rd and Dobson Rd.

The council has asked multiple questions about the proposed impact of a new campground on the Mary River at Amamoor followings its lodgement.

Property developer Alan Holliday confirmed the plan was to create a new camping and caravan location.

The 35.35ha property will offer 250 RV spots and 100 camping sites.

The developer has sought more time to provide requested information about the development and its impacts on the area.

Gunalda tourist park

Gunalda’s tourism offerings may soon expand with plans for a 37-site campground complete with playgrounds, bicycle track and animal petting farm.

A 37-site campground is proposed at Gunalda but still awaiting approval.

Land owner Greg Jenkins has asked Gympie Regional Council for permission to open the campgrounds on a 16ha block at Neerdie Rd.

A BMX course and farm animal petting zoo are among key features of the proposed park, but far from the only ones.

The largest of three dams will be used as a place for “water based play” and three small playgrounds will be built across the park.